Food was prepared very well, with thoughtfulness and lots of flavor. The hamachi special was amazing. And the waiter picked out the perfect wine for us. Food comes out quickly. The tuna tartare was perfect with this amazing avocado mousse. It was busy when we arrived but were able to sit at the bar within 10 min. Seating is kind of tight but felt cozy vs. crowded. read more

Barrafina - Tuna Tartare and Bibb salad - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

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First day in London and we wanted a lighter meal to account for the time difference. We came to Barrafina and it is terrific! The interior is mostly bar and small hightop seating, but it manages to create close and intimate sining areas for 2 very nicely. The food seems authentic. Mostly done tappas-style but much better than in the states. We got the Olives, Oxtail slider, Rice with seafod, Langustines, potatoes, cauliflower and Pluma Iberica. All were very good and the Oxtail, rice/seafood, and pluma Iberica were hauntingly scrumptious. Service was genuine, accommodating, caring and prompt. The best example of that was the timing and staging of dishes so we never got more than 2 at once and could enjoy each before the next plates arrived. Best service I have ever had at a tappas or small plates restaurant! If you are in London, you gotta go!! read more

Barrafina - Dining room, bar and display prep area - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

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Very tasty tapas (large grilled squid in ink, half eggplant grilled with garlic cream, huge butter beans with tuna, delicate crab croquettes), friendly staff, prompt service. Decent but not exceptional wines. Crowded still at 9 pm when we arrived (very Spanish!). Noisy but we could still talk. read more

Want lunch or dinner (we had lunch) around Covent Garden / Theater district) definitely hit Barrafina. Great tapas style food and drinks. Service was awesome - Thank you Ulugbek!! And loved sitting at the Chef's counter. Want a variety of foods (mussels, charcuterie, wine, etc) where you can go lite or heavy if you want? This is the place. Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Highly recommend. read more

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Came here for a solo dinner and was seated at the bar. The server was super friendly and patiently explained the entire menu to me. I ended up getting a small bite (banderilla) which was delicious, chipirones and squid ink rice. Everything was delicious, although the rice was probably a little over salted, but not too terrible. read more

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When I searched Reddit for London must visit restaurants, Barrafina was one that came up frequently. I wish our jet lag hadn't messed with our eating schedule so we could have enjoyed even more, but what we did eat was fantastic! Barrafina has a long counter where you can see your meal being cooked right in front of you. Talk about fresh! They have a great wine list and we enjoyed an earthy red as we shared a variety of tapas including the tortilla, patatas bravas and salad. Everything was so flavorful and delicious! The tortilla was so soft and gooey on the inside. I'd never had one with that kind of creamy center before. I loved the crisp patatas bravas and the salad was perfection for being so simple. They have daily specials so that they'll post on instagram or go over with you when you arrive. They have a bunch of fresh seafood so there are typically great seafood special options! A wonderful dining experience that I'd highly recommend. Don't forget to make a reservation! read more

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Anytime I'm in London, I make a point of coming to Barrafina. I could eat nothing but their croquettas for life.

Phenomenal, just phenomenal! This is a diner style location where everyone's view is of the bustling open kitchen. Service was flawless. The staff was so engaging, friendly, and the head chef himself even came by briefly to see how we liked everything. After tasting some of their recommended dishes, I can see why this spot is so busy. We ordered: Monkfish & mussels- The star dish of the night. If you see it on the special menu, ORDER IT!! Prawn Tortilla- One of many tortilla options and very delicious Seafood rice- Similar to risotto. Creamy, flavorful and can be shared by two people. Croquettes- One day I may walk into a tapas place and avoid croquettes. This was not the day and I regret nothing. read more

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We visited the original SOHO locations previously and this is our first time to the Covant Garden location. Barrafina serves modern basque country dishes, which are hard to find, and execute the dishes nicely. The atmosphere is great since everyone is sitting on barstools around the kitchen, and service is on top of everything. The food is top notch and I wish I would've been hungrier. Every item on the menu sounded delicious. We ordered the cuttlefish coquettes from the special menu, was outstanding. The monk fish tail was cooked perfect and very moist. The pork cheeks was tender and very flavorful. Do yourself a favor and make a reservation to go to this restaurant and try some new dishes! read more

Barrafina - Cuttlefish coquette - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

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We loved our lunch at Barrafina. The service was excellent and the food was incredible. The chicken thighs, olives, tuna tartare, patatas bravas, jamon iberico and garlic shrimp were some of our favorite dishes. read more

Barrafina - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

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Everything here during our visit was superb!! The food was the absolute best, freshest, cooked perfectly and service was awesome!! I have already recommended this place to several other travelers I met during my visit to London in mid May. read more

Great tapas bar. Only bar seating, no tables -- which is traditional tapas seating. The croquettas were excellent, along with the patatas bravas and the tomato salad. Try the aubergine with honey as a dessert! read more

Barrafina - Patatas Bravas and an Albariño - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

This tapas place was a bit small, and they mainly have bar seating (there are hooks underneath the counter if you'd like to hang your bag). My party of 2 got a reservation around the time they opened, and we saw a lot of parties walking in around that time, so I'd suggest either getting there early or making a reservation if you'd like to visit. Ham Croquetas (4/5): Crispy and delicious, but also a tad bit salty for my tastes. The portion is pretty small. Iberian Pork Cheeks (5/5): This was really good, and I'd definitely recommend it! The pork was super soft to eat, and the flavoring was quite nice too. We also ordered some wine to go with the food, which were both pretty good. Service was good but not great (would rate it a 4/5). We ordered only 2 items and were surprised when a Stuffed Courgette Flower appeared, but people can make mistakes and they took it away and removed it from our tab once we told them that we did not order it. Felt really bad since the food was already cooked, but didn't want to pay for something we didn't order. read more

Barrafina - Iberian Pork Cheeks de Bellota - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

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Wonderful food and pleasant atmosphere! Definitely recommend- especially with bar seating. Will be returning. read more

Barrafina - Wine and salad - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

Delicious Spanish tapas! It is a long bar style seating and you should make reservations if you're more than 1. Fish, chorizo tortilla, mussels, all good. But it was Manchengo cheesecake for the win! read more

I highly recommend Barrafina for the bar seating& open kitchen set up which make for a fun atmosphere even when dining alone. Since I was alone I only had the ham croquettes, Patatas bravas and the Manchego cheesecake. The cheesecake was my favorite part by far. The rest of the food coming off the line looked delicious though. It's just minutes from Charing Cross Station & the National Gallery. read more

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OMG the food at this little restaurant is amazing. We went for lunch and sat at the counter where we could watch how everything was prepared. The coordination is something to see. We had sangria and about 6 different things from the menu - potatoes bravos, a shrimp dish, tortilla, asparagus - honestly can't remember. What I do remember is that everything we ate was prepared and presented beautifully. Staff was friendly and it is just a happy place. Totally worth the trip - easily one of the best meals we had in London. The counter is fun to sit at and the whole environment is laid back. There are several locations and all get very busy so make a reservation! read more

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I came here before a musical and every dish that we ordered was tasty. Price point is reasonable. It's fast paced environment and food comes out relatively quickly. London definitely has better ethnic food than regional food based on my time here. read more

The sizes were too small given the price of the tapas. They charge more than £15 per tapas that are regular size, no more than 3-4 bites. We got seated in the downstairs so the ambiance was not as lovely. read more

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Absolutely loved this place! We popped in with no reservations and the place was incredibly busy. Thanks to Roberto who told us to hang out for a bit, he found us two seats at the counter. I'm so happy he did as the food was amazing and the best tapas I've had to date. We ordered croquettes, tomato salad, scallops, and more! All were amazing and the mango cheesecake didn't sound like something I'd typically like, but in fact it was amazing! The service was very attentive and friendly, plus watching the chefs work in the open kitchen was truly impressive and added to the memorable experience and ambiance. read more

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Came here with a group of friends while visiting and it was a excellent choice. There was no table seating, just counter seating which was a bit uncomfortable as a couple from the group sat at the main counter while we were in another area. We ordered a whole lot of plates which most of us shared and split the bill, here is what we got: *Chicken croquettes *Octopus *Scallops *Lamb brains *Crispy pig ear *Lobster Paella *Seafood rice *Pork ribs *Pork skewer *Lamb kidney *Suckling pig Nothing was even good, all great. Portions were comparable to quality and price. Great for sharing. read more

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We had a reservation and was sat right on time. Service was quick. We had a ham Majoma, cuttlefish croquettes, and tomato salad appetizers. All great. The prawns and pan appetizer was super filling albeit a little less in the flavor profile. Mains were the suckling pig (very filling great subtle flavor) and lemon sole (light, delicate, easy going down and a delight). The staff were attentive and we were not rushed. All in all I would highly recommend. Great seating at the counter. read more

Barrafina - Lemon sole with citrus butter and capers - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

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Great tapas . Place is packed must make reservation ! See photos All very delicious Must try !! read more

Barrafina - Arroz de mariscos - Spanish Near Me - London, XGL

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Simply the best. Every time we come to London we stop at one of their locations! Fish meat wine and killer Estrella! read more

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One of my favorite dining options in London. I've visited the original SOHO location numerous times and decided to try this newer location. This location is roomier with more seats at the counter. Still not an ideal place for parties larger than 3 for it is counter seating only and first come first serve. Service is prompt and very friendly. While a small thing it may be meaningful for some that the water (still or sparkling) is on the house. The food is as good as the SOHO location. My favorite are always the razor clams and the chicken wings. The wings are baked at high temps so that there is little fat left in the crispy skin. It is served with a bed of tomato based sauce. The Chicharrón is not pork rinds instead it is a dish of super tender pork belly slices. The pork literally disintegrated in my mouth. The ox tongue is fanatically tender and the potatoes are pan fried with some Dijon mustard that gave it a little extra flavor. The quail is grilled to perfection and accompanied by pickled vegetables. I think there isn't a bad choice on the menu. read more

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There are 3 different Barrafina locations in London; all have slightly different menus. The one on Adelaide street serves the signature lamb's brain, so obviously that's where my coworker and I went. This Michelin-starred tapas restaurant makes it to almost every list of London's must-try food spots. They serve authentic Spanish tapas that are great for sharing. However, because the dining area only has counter seating, it isn't ideal for parties larger than 3. We came for Tuesday dinner at 19:15 and were seated in a little over an hour. The wait is indeed quite daunting, but you will be rewarded with a flurry of small plates that are both delicious and creative. // Classic Tortilla (£8.00) - 3 stars // Milk Fed Lamb's Brain (£10.60) - 4 stars // Stuffed Courgette Flower (£8.50) - 4 stars // Crab Croquetas (£6.80) - 4 stars // Oyster, Lime & Chillies (£3.90 each) - 3 stars // Herb Crusted Rabbit Shoulder (£9.50) - 5 stars // Mackerel Special (£15.80) - 4 stars read more

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Second time I've been to this spot. Delicious food and great service. Love sitting and watching the action going on in the open kitchen.

Accommodating and friendly tapas place. Eat and drink like you are in Barcelona. Try the sirloin for something different. Going back. See you there amigo! Order me some cava.Eat the squid and the shellfish. read more

We came in just for a small snack. The crab croquettes were small but very good. I had a tortilla based on an article recommendation. It was my first Spanish tortilla and was pretty good! I have never had one before so it's hard to compare with others. The water was free and service was friendly! read more

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What a delicious place to eat at! I found this place on Yelp and decided to go there. I was welcomed by a well lit establishment with not tables but a curved counter top. We sat down and our waiter Lucas immediately greeted us and started talking to us. The menu has so many yummy things to pick from. Overall we ate deliciously. We had tomato bread, olives, jamon iberico, and seafood rice. The plates were really small but perfect for sharing and trying a little of everything. The waiter was so sweet and gave us so many good recommendation. Super cute place for date night too. It was a little pricey but I found it to be worth it. read more

Excellent! The best restaurant we tried in London. The seafood was fresh, the shrimp (gambas rojas) and croqueta's were delicious. Every dish we tried was very good or excellent. Also, saw many people ordering the olives, will have to remember to do so the next time I'm there. read more

THIEVES OPERATING IN RESTAURANT - BE AWARE! I visited Barrafina on 21 February 2023, sat on a barstool at the end of bar with a friend and put my small black backpack at my feet at 8pm. There is no other place to keep a small backpack so all customers are required to this. As we got up to leave at 9.30pm, i noticed my backpack wasn't there. We then found another old backpack that had been left behind which somebody used in case they were challenged on stealing mine. The restaurant have confirmed that they have no duty to protect their customers possessions and that professional thieves operate on their premises. Their CCTV is completely useless as well and they do not control or check thieves operating in the restaurant. I can't believe that a Michelin starred restaurant is willing to allow thieves to steal its customers possessions and not act in any way. The MD of all Barrafina restaurants confirmed that its customers can't expect protection against theft on their premises and must rely on their own insurance. They also said that this is the same for all Harts Group restaurants so do no visit Quo Vadis, El Pastor, Parillan, The Drop or Bar Daskal as they won't protect customers from theft on those premises either. And to top it all off........the food has gone really badly downhill as well. read more

I was lucky enough to discover Barrafina (the one in Soho) on a trip to London several years ago. I make sure I return every time I come back to London. On this particular trip to London whilst walking from our hotel to the Golden Jubilee footbridge we stumbled upon the newer Barrafina near Covent Garden -- very close to our hotel. Wonderfully (and as expected), this Barrafina is as good as the original with the added bonus of it being less busy than its Soho sibling (only a 30 min. wait at 7:00pm on Sat. night). Being a Spanish tapas restaurant modeled after an old-fashioned American diner, Barafinna is perfectly suited to my preference for making a meal out of shared small plates at the bar. On this evening we started with a bottle of The Flower and the Bee Coto de Gomariz (Spanish white) and Marcona Almonds. We then proceeded to order an amazing round of small plates: lightly fried fresh Anchovies (special); Fried Oysters (special); Prawn & Bonito Carpaccio; and Crab on Toast. Every dish was an amazing mix of tastes and textures expertly prepared and presented. I already suspected our meal would be amazing due to my previous visits to Barrrafina in Soho and I was not disappointed. And my girlfriend, who'd never been, is dying to go back. Luckily, we are in London for several more days. read more

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We came with another couple and sat for probably 4 hours and ate and drank till our hearts content. It wasn't as expensive as I thought it would be ~ 40 quid per person. Think about it- that's actually amazing! And it was awesome to come with another couple because we could try more food! We all sat at the bar and the waitstaff was very accommodating- actually they were fantastic. I'm not sure if there is other seating downstairs or if everything is bar seating. Here's what we ate. Crab coquetas- creamy and delicious on the inside, and crunchy on the outside Pan con tomate- nothing like pan con tomate in Spain (I'm such an expert) but still delicious Arroz de Marisco- delicious! I thought it tasted like paella but maybe it's not. Full of flavour and the rice has that nice texture that paella has. Stuffed courgette flower- oooooh yes this was delicious. Super crunchy on the outside and a creamy surprise on the inside! Judion, fennel and smoked salmon- Very lovely flavours. Fresh, crunchy, healthy, delicious Yellow Chicory, Don Bocarte Anchovies and Salmorejo- Another fresh and delicious dish. The price is pretty steep on this one but it was a nice addition. Milhojas- the most delicious dessert!!! layers of fluffy pastry with the creamiest custard in the centre. YUM! This was a fantastic experience with great drinks, delicious food and wonderful people. read more

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There's usually a wait but there are plenty of places to stand and have a drink and a couple bites while you wait for a seat at the bar. There are plenty of options for vegetarians. I especially loved the pan con tomate, and the freshly made tortilla. And definitely save room for dessert! read more

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The service was very friendly but the majority of our food lacked flavor. The croquetas and pan con tomate were fresh and delicious. The pulpo and gambas unfortunately were very underseasoned. read more

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My experience in Barrafina at the Covert Garden was ok. The food seems to have similar taste. Nothing really stand out. The dishes I ordered was good, just that nothing is profound. Here's what I ordered: Cuttlefish croquettes Queens scallop Monkfish fritters read more

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I have been to many of the top restaurants in London and if I had to choose one for exquisite food and great, friendly service, Barrafina would get my vote every time. This is a simple but exciting dining experience for everyone. It offers small plate dining in the best Tapas tradition. They also have a solid wine and beer menu. This is a small chain in London but it is quite refined. The staff works in perfect synchronization and with enthusiasm. The dishes we had were delicious and perfectly prepared. We started with the crab croquettes, bon bon date with pancetta, Iberian ribs and then the doughnuts with chocolate sauce. We added some vegetable dishes along with a nice carafe of Spanish Albareno and the meal was heavenly! read more

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Hands down the best Spanish food I've had out of Spain. In the case of some dishes it's even better than some I've had in Spain. Especially enjoyed the seafood rice (this is not a paella!!) and the tomato salad on specials. I am a sucker for croquetas and these are excellent. Also enjoyed a glass of cava which was not overpriced! Most everyone cooking/serving is Spanish except for a couple of Italians. If you want real Spanish, look no further. Also, unless you have a pea-sized stomach you won't leave here for less than 40 per head. read more

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Always a go to spot when in London. Was a bit disappointed the last time will service. They now take reservations. Which meant they were a bit awkward with seating us right as they opened. read more